UPDATE: Taking newborn to London -- logistics Q

[VillainV]

We have to take Colin to the US Embassy in London in a few weeks to process his Consular Report of Birth Abroad and get his US passport.   He'll be about 5 weeks old.   Our plan is to take the train into Kings X (about a 90-minute journey), then tube to the embassy (maybe another 30 minutes).  They say to allow 2 hours for the appointment.  Then we'll probably grab a quick lunch, and head straight back home.  Total time for the whole journey will probably be around 7 hours, could be a little longer.

We have a carseat + stroller frame that are really light-weight, and he likes riding in it.  We also have an Ergo baby carrier that he really likes.   I'd love to just take the stroller, but I worry about him being in his carseat for 7 hours (we can take him out while we're on the train, and while we're in the embassy).   I know that there are escalators and stairs in Kings X to get from the train station to the tube station....and I thinks we'll have to transfer on the tube a few times....is the stroller a really bad idea?    

The other option would be to take both the stroller and the Ergo, and switch out periodically.  Obviously we'll still have to push the stroller around everywhere, but that way he wouldn't be strapped into the thing all day.  

Any suggestions or recommendations?
________________________________________

UPDATE:  Our trip went very well!  We took the train to KGX, then a taxi to the Embassy.  That was a great call.  We ended up just taking the stroller and not the Ergo, which I think was a good decision -- we were able to navigate stairs just fine.  The Embassy process was smooth and efficient, and C was in a great non-fussy mood all day.   Total time from when we left to when we got home was just over 7 hours.  Thanks so much for all of your suggestions!!!

[frlcb]

Many tube stations don't have lifts, so I would skip the stroller if possible - or wear him on the train and fold up the stroller to make it easier to carry up and down stairs

[lolo]

Apr 17, 2014 16:24:29 GMT -5 frlcb said:

Many tube stations don't have lifts, so I would skip the stroller if possible - or wear him on the train and fold up the stroller to make it easier to carry up and down stairs

Yup!

[VillainV]

So would you do just the Ergo and not bother with the stroller?

[americaninoz]

Since it's a big day id bring both since you'll have your dh to tell with the stroller is there aren't any lifts

[pittpurple]

Personally I wouldn't have been able to carry a baby for 7 hours though I suppose you could swap out. But while you're waiting at the Embassy, I would prefer to have somewhere to put the baby so you aren't holding him the whole time. I'd just leave extra time and be prepared to carry the buggy when you need to since you'll have your DH there.

[rupertpenny]

Can he sit in the stroller without the car seat attached? If so I'd bring the stroller and the ergo. If you have the car seat too there are more things to carry (baby, car seat, folded stroller) than there are people to carry them. If the stroller isn't rated for newborns I guess being it all. I sucks to not have anywhere to set the baby down.

Not in London, but we regularly bring a stroller and a carrier when we know we're going to be out all day. It's annoying, but I like having the options.

[pittpurple]

London ladies - would a bus be easier? When we were thinking of taking LO to the football game last year someone mentioned that you can wheel a stroller onto a bus?

[frlcb]

Apr 18, 2014 3:48:54 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

London ladies - would a bus be easier? When we were thinking of taking LO to the football game last year someone mentioned that you can wheel a stroller onto a bus?

I took our stroller on the bus all the time out of necessity but I don't know if it was easier!

[VillainV]

Apr 18, 2014 3:41:08 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Can he sit in the stroller without the car seat attached? If so I'd bring the stroller and the ergo. If you have the car seat too there are more things to carry (baby, car seat, folded stroller) than there are people to carry them. If the stroller isn't rated for newborns I guess being it all. I sucks to not have anywhere to set the baby down.

Not in London, but we regularly bring a stroller and a carrier when we know we're going to be out all day. It's annoying, but I like having the options.

The only stroller we have right now is just a carseat and a frame to put it in (it's the Chicco KeyFit carseat and KeyFit Caddy frame).  We don't have another non car-seat stroller to put him in.  

I think we're leaning toward bringing both.  The stroller is light enough that between H and I we can carry it up/down stairs in the tube station.  The Ergo can be folded up and stuffed into the diaper bag when we're not using it.   And we can always take him out of the carseat on the train ride down and back, and in the Embassy, and just hold him in our laps for a while to get him out of the carseat.  

I hadn't thought about the bus though...I'll look into a bus from Kings X to the Embassy.  That might be easier if we can wheel the stroller right on, especially if we can get there without having to change buses.   

[pittpurple]

Just wondering why you are concerned about just leaving him in his carseat if he's happy in it? I know it's not recommended to do this regularly, but for a one-off trip to London I personally wouldn't worry about it. But of course there might be a different reason you were worried :-)

[VillainV]

Apr 18, 2014 5:44:35 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

Just wondering why you are concerned about just leaving him in his carseat if he's happy in it? I know it's not recommended to do this regularly, but for a one-off trip to London I personally wouldn't worry about it. But of course there might be a different reason you were worried :-)

I guess I just feel like it might be too confining for that long a time period? He does like it, but the longest he's ever been in it is maybe 3 hours, minus feeding and diaper changes.

[pittpurple]

You'll be taking him out plenty for changes / feeds so honestly, if he's happy I would just leave him to it for a one-day solution. Little babies (at least mine!) like being cozy and there are plenty of parents who regularly drive long distances with their babies in car seats so I wouldn't spend much time worrying about it. He might sleep half the time in the car seat so if that's more comfortable than wearing him, I'd just enjoy it :-)

[frlcb]

I would bring both. The ergo takes up no space.

[UnderProtest]

I would bring both. Between you and your husband you should be able to get the stroller through the stations. The escalators are easy with a single stroller. I would want the ergo in case he gets fussy and you are walking or trying to sign paperwork or something.

[VillainV]

H and I had a thought this morning -- wouldn't it be easier for us to just take a taxi from Kings X to the Embassy? What's the deal with car seats/strollers in taxis?

[loira]

I would bring the pram and take either the bus or a taxi to the embassy. You should be able to wheel the pram straight into the taxi, if that's what you choose. I wouldn't bother taking the tube. Not only will you have to navigate stairs, but depending on what time you finish at the embassy, you could end up trying to use the tube at rush hour, which would be unpleasant. A taxi shouldn't cost you much more than about £15 from King's X to the US embassy (if it's still in Grosvenor Sq).

[frlcb]

Apr 19, 2014 9:42:21 GMT -5 VillainV said:

H and I had a thought this morning -- wouldn't it be easier for us to just take a taxi from Kings X to the Embassy? What's the deal with car seats/strollers in taxis?

You can roll a stroller right into a black cab. You are not required to put a car seat in a taxi (and probably wouldn't be able to with a black cab) but you could book a private car if you wanted to use a car seat, but it would be more. It's only about 3 miles but in traffic could take a while so give yourself plenty of time. I agree it is probably about £15

[VillainV]

Update in OP

[lolo]

I'm glad it went so well!

[azure]

I'm glad it went well!